Author: Patsy Newitt

Medicare per-procedure payments to hospital outpatient departments were 2.1 times larger than payments to ASCs, according to new research published by the Rand Corp. 

Median orthopedic surgeon compensation hit a two-year high on March 1, according to Kaufman Hall's "Physician Flash Report" published May 2. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg is one of the largest ASC chains in the U.S. with more than 250 surgery centers and 2,000 physicians in 34 states. 

Here are four supply chain updates from the last week:

A 54-bed hospital with surgery centers is being proposed in Port St. Lucie, Fla., TCPalm reported May 16. 

A physician at Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health Physicians has sued the health system, saying he was demoted and then terminated after objecting to limiting EMR time to 10 minutes, Indiana Business Journal reported May 16. 

A New York anesthesiologist admitted to using his medical license to buy prescription oncology medication to sell for profit, the U.S. Justice Department said May 16. 

For many ASC leaders, the biggest obstacle to care is skyrocketing costs driven by supply and labor shortages, as well as a 40-year inflation apex of 8.5 percent.

Private equity-backed groups are making headway in the ASC industry. Here are six private equity updates from the last month:

Canado, N.D.-based Towner County Hospital Authority has secured a $10.9 million loan that will expand its ambulatory surgery offerings, U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said May 13.